Group's fear mongering to block judicial reforms

Published
9:29 pm EDT, Friday, March 15, 2019

Contrary to the statement made by District Attorneys Association of the State of New York President David Soares (in the article "Activists reach out to progressive DAs," March 4) that "[DAASNY is] not a lobbying group; we are a trade organization," DAASNY and its members have been active in Albany trying to derail important criminal justice legislation including Rockefeller drug law reform, legalization of work knives, the prosecutorial conduct commission and many others for at least a decade.

DAASNY is now campaigning against sensible reforms that will make New York's system fairer and more functional. They are resorting to fear mongering to scare legislators into supporting outdated laws and ignoring results from other states that clearly demonstrate that reforms improve the quality and efficiency of justice without sacrificing anyone's safety.

In its overzealousness to maintain a "trial-by-ambush" advantage, it's no wonder DAASNY is suffering a loss of credibility with lawmakers and some of its own members who oppose its lobbying efforts.

Soares volunteers DAASNY members "happen to be criminal and penal law experts." No doubt. But so are former district attorneys, judges and the criminal defense bar. The drafters of the current proposals heard from all them as well as current prosecutors and DAASNY.